Sole support apparatus

ABSTRACT

A device for facilitating the emergency release of a ski boot from a ski by minimizing friction between the ski boot and the ski. The device broadly consists of a rotatable, normally circular, member rotatably mountable on the ski and arranged to lie between the boot and the ski in the normal position of use. The rotatable member is arranged so that only a portion thereof which is moveable substantially across the ski contacts the boot, said limited contact being effected by any mechanically convenient means including either suitable tilting of the rotatable member or masking the portion not to be contacted by the boot. Antifriction means, as ball or roller bearings, may be used between the rotatable member and either the boot or ski.

United States Pate [191 Smollka et a1.

[451 Mar, 26, 1974 SOLE SUPPORT APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Thomas GordonSmollka,

Wien-Mauer; Gottfried Schweizer, Wien, both of Austria 1,428,931 2/1969Germany..... 280/1135 C Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts AssistantExaminer--David M. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodhams, Blanchardand Flynn 5 7] ABSTRACT A device for facilitating the emergency releaseof a ski boot from a ski by minimizing friction between the ski boot andthe ski. The device broadly consists of a re tatable, normally circular,member rotatably mountable on the ski and arranged to lie between theboot and the ski in the normal position of use. The rotatable member isarranged so that only a portion thereof which is moveable substantiallyacross the ski contacts the boot, said limited contact being effected byany mechanically convenient means including either suitable tilting ofthe rotatable member or masking the portion not to be contacted by theboot. Antifriction means, as ball or roller bearings, may be usedbetween the rotatable member and either the boot or ski.

A Claims, 41 Drawing; Figures PATENTEDIARZB 1914 3799563 ATTUF/Vf d SOLESIUWUIIKT APPARATUS The invention relates to a sole support apparatuswhich has at least one element which is supported rnovably on the skiand on which the sole of the ski boot rests when in use.

In order to reduce the friction which occurs during a release operationduring which the ski shoe moves relative to the ski, plates which aremounted onto the ski have already been suggested. Such a known plateconsists for example of a disk rotatably supported on the ski. In orderfor this plate to fulfill its purpose, the pivot point about which theski boot pivots would have to be substantially coincident with the axisof rotation of the disk. However, depending on the particularconditions, the ski boot does not always rotate around the same axis sothat in most cases variable frictional forces still occur between theski shoe and the plate.

Similar plates are also known which at the moment of a release move withthe ski boot relative to the ski and are returned into their originalcentral position by resilient return means. Such plates are expensivesince additional return means are required and furthermore suchresilient return means can be easily damaged. Ifin a given instance thereturn means no longer function, then the plate is stopped on one side;namely it can no longer move in this direction relative to the ski.Thus, again, depending on the particular surface structure of the plateand the ski boot sole, different frictional forces will occur. It is theuprpose of the present invention to avoid these disadvantages and toproduce a simple apparatus in which a return is not required and thefriction is maintained substantially low and constant.

This purpose is attained by constructing the movably supported elementas a rotatable member. Said rotatable member is then so mounted as tocontact the ski boot sole with one but only one portion of its surfacewhich portion is movable substantially transversely of the ski and theportions of the circular member which then moves during the releaseoperation relative to the movement of the boot, do not contact the bootsole.

The subject matter of the invention is illustrated in severalembodiments in the drawings, in which:

FIG. I illustrates the mounting of a ski boot on the ski.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate views associated with one another of a solesupport apparatus with three disks.

FIG. A illustrates in an enlarged scale a particular construction of adisk.

According to FIG. II, the ski boot l is held with a sole 2 on the ski 5between appropriate binding parts, for example a rear tensioning means 3and a front jaw 4. During a twisting fall, the boot l is twisted outopposite the ski 5 from the binding parts 3 and 4. Depending on theadjustment of the binding parts 3 and A, the boot is pivoted about thesole point or about an axis in the area of the heel. In order to assuresuch freeing of the boot, according to the invention one or more solesupport apparatuses 6,7 which reduce the friction (or rather maintainthe friction constant) are arranged between the ski boot and ski.

' The sole support apparatus in FIGS. 2 and 3 consists of a base plate 9mounted to the ski 5. The base plate 8 has a pair of inclined surfaces9A and 9B thereon, facing in opposed directions and joined togetheralong a common edge 9C. The base plate 9 has three rotatable members,here disks, 9 rotatably mounted thereon, one disk member on the surface8A and two disk members on the surface NB. The axes of rotation Ill) ofthe disks are arranged inclined to the surface of the ski 5 but not inthe same direction. Furthermore, each disk 9 is constructedapproximately like a plate. Through this the sole of the boot 2 restsonly on a portion of the surface ll of the disk 9, which surface isformed by the platelike inclination. Theoretically the contact of theinclined surface H and the boot sole 2 takes place only on one line.During a safety release the disks roll with their inclined surface Illalong the ski boot. With this arrangement it does not matter about whichpoint the ski boot pivots with respect to the ski. Of course, theinventive sole support apparatus is arranged corresponding to the skibindings used.

The axis of one disk 9 is here for example inclined leftwardly of aplane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ski and the axes ofboth other disks 9 defining a theoretical base line of the triangulararrangement (which base line is preferably perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the ski) are inclined rightwardly of the plane. Theconical platelike inclined surfaces ill (surface of frustums) of thedisks 9 are thus positioned in the zone where they contact the shoe sole2 in one plane. During a safety release the shoe then rolls along threedisks toward the side.

In the embodiments discussed thus far, low friction spacers 12, forexample of Teflon, are provided between the disks 9 and the base plate din order to reduce the friction as much as possible. In order to re ducethe friction still further, ball bearings can also be provided betweenthe base plate and disk. Such a construction can for example be as shownin FIG. A. Here balls 13 are provided in grooves between the disk 9 andthe base plate A, which balls, if necessary, can also be arranged in aball cage. Thus when the disk 9 rotates, same rolls along the balls.

We claim:

ll. In a sole support apparatus adapted to materially reduce thefriction between the boot sole of a skier and the ski in the areabeneath one of the heel and the ball of the foot in pivotal action aboutthe heel upon release of the boot toe by a toe binding due to excessivelateral pressure, said apparatus having a mounting plate adapted to besecured to a ski in the general area beneath one of the heel and theball of the foot of a skier, the improvement comprising:

three disk members rotatably mounted on said plate and adapted to beengaged by the boot sole of a skier, said plate having a pair ofupwardly inclined surfaces thereon facing in opposed directions andjoined together along means defining a common edge, each of said diskmembers being identical and having a conical surface defined by afrustum the axes of which are coaxial with the respective axesofrotation of each of said disk members, said disk members being rotatablymounted on said I plate, one disk member on one of said inclinedsurfaces of said plate, the remaining two disk members on the other ofsaid inclined surface of said plate and arranged to define an isoscelestriangle and adapted to rotate in either direction as required upon theoccurrence of a relative movement between the boot sole and said plate,the theoretical base of said triangle arrangement being perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of said ski and the axis of rotation of said diskmembers located on said lel lines.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, including low friction meansbetween said disk members and said mounting plate.

3. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said low friction meansare low friction material spacers.

4. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said low friction meansare ball bearings.

1. In a sole support apparatus adapted to materially reduce the frictionbetween the boot sole of a skier and the ski in the area beneath one ofthe heel and the ball of the foot in pivotal action about the heel uponrelease of the boot toe by a toe binding due to excessive lateralpressure, said apparatus having a mounting plate adapted to be securedto a ski in the general area beneath one of the heel and the ball of thefoot of a skier, the improvement comprising: three disk membersrotatably mounted on said plate and adapted to be engaged by the bootsole of a skier, said plate having a pair of upwardly inclined surfacesthereon facing in opposed directions and joined together along meansdefining a common edge, each of said disk members being identical andhaving a conical surface defined by a frustum the axes of which arecoaxial with the respective axes of rotation of each of said diskmembers, said disk members being rotatably mounted on said plate, onedisk member on one of said inclined surfaces of said plate, theremaining two disk members on the other of said inclined surface of saidplate and arranged to define an isosceles triangle and adapted to rotatein either direction as required upon the occurrence oF a relativemovement between the boot sole and said plate, the theoretical base ofsaid triangle arrangement being perpendicular to the longitudinal axisof said ski and the axis of rotation of said disk members located onsaid theoretical base line being disposed at an angle to a theoreticalvertical plane containing said common edge and perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said ski, and the axis of the disk member locatedat the apex of said triangle being disposed at an angle to said plate onone side thereof but in an opposite direction from said first mentionedaxes on the other side of said plane so that the surfaces of each ofsaid frustums engage a common plane defined by the bottom of said bootsole along parallel lines.
 2. The improvement according to claim 1,including low friction means between said disk members and said mountingplate.
 3. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said lowfriction means are low friction material spacers.
 4. The improvementaccording to claim 2, wherein said low friction means are ball bearings.